Lasagna

By charlotteh371

Ingredients

• 1 lb sweet Italian sausage
• 3/4 lb lean ground beef
• 1/2 cup minced onion
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 (28oz) can crushed tomatoes
• 2 (6oz) cans tomato paste
• 2 (6.5oz) cans canned tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tbsp. white sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp dried basil leaves
• 1/2 tsp fennel seeds
• 1 tbsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
• 4 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
• 12 lasagna noodles
• 16 oz ricotta cheese
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3/4 lb mozzarella cheese, sliced
• 3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Preparation

Step 1

in a dutch oven, cook sausage, ground beef, onion and garlic over medium heat until well browned. stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce and water. season with sugar, basil, fennel seeds, Italian seasoning, 1 tbsp. salt, pepper and 2 tbsp. parsley. simmer, covered for about 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.

bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 8 to 10 mins. drain noodles, and rinse with cold water. in a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining parsley and 1/2 tsp salt.

preheat the oven to 375.

To assemble, spread 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish. arrange 6 noodles lengthwise across the meat sauce. spread one half of the ricotta cheese mixture. top with a third of mozzarella cheese slices. spoon 1 1/2 cups meat sauce over the mozzarella and sprinkle with 1/4 cup parmesan cheese. repeat layers, and top with remaining mozzarella, and parm cheese. cover with foil; to prevent sticking, either spray foil with cooking spray or make sure the foil doesn't touch the cheese.

bake in a preheated oven for 25mins. remove foil, and bake an additional 25mins. cool for 15mins before serving.